The Thinking Behind
The Method
26 years of working with founders. Hundreds of businesses. Certain patterns become undeniable.
How an Upgrade Actually Works
Forget pillars and complex methodologies. My approach rests on three concrete elements:
Compressed Experience, Not Anecdotes
There's a massive difference between "I did this once and it worked" and "We've tested this in ten different contexts: in eight it produced these results, in two it failed for these reasons." Mine isn't a theoretical approach. It's the result of compressed experience over time, allowing you to make decisions based on statistical patterns, not single stories.
A Sparring Partner for Clear Thinking
The founder is alone when it's time to decide. That's an uncomfortable truth, but it's true. This loneliness often leads to postponing, getting blocked by doubts, or reacting emotionally. I work alongside you as a sparring partner—not a yes-man. I help you organize your decision-making process, distinguish between urgency and importance, and break the mental loops that keep you stuck.
The "How" When You're Missing a Piece
Sometimes you know exactly what you want to achieve but you're not sure how to get there. Maybe you're missing a specific process, an organizational framework, or practical knowledge you haven't had time to acquire. My job is to provide that missing piece. Not a 40-hour training course, but the useful, applicable knowledge you need to take the next step—now.
What Does This Look Like?
It means having a structured moment, without distractions, to take stock. A protected space where we can:
- Validate ideas you have in your head by comparing them to dozens of real cases
- Unlock problems that seem unsolvable by looking at them from a new angle
- Accelerate decisions by eliminating the doubts that paralyze you
- Identify real priorities by learning to say "no" to what's just noise
The result isn't revolution overnight. It's constant acceleration—an incremental gain in speed. Growth would probably happen anyway; you're a competent entrepreneur. Our work together acts as a multiplier: it helps you avoid costly mistakes you wouldn't see alone, and helps you do the right things a little sooner.
The Short Version
I'm Piernicola De Maria. For 26 years, I've supported hundreds of businesses—helping them overcome obstacles, accelerate growth, and maximize results.
I've published several business books with over 200,000 copies sold. My podcast has reached another 200,000+ listeners. I run advisory programs in multiple languages.
But credentials don't matter nearly as much as results.
The founders I work with don't care about my background. They care that when they face a critical decision, they have someone in their corner who understands the stakes and will tell them the truth.
200K+
Books sold
200K+
Podcast listeners
26+
Years advising
Why I'm Selective
I can only work with a small number of founders at any given time. This isn't artificial scarcity—it's math.
To provide the level of attention BoardRoom requires—weekly calls, ongoing availability, deep contextual understanding—I can only serve a handful of clients.
To maintain quality in Confidential—real strategic partnership, not superficial check-ins—the numbers have to stay reasonable.
This means I'm selective. Not everyone who applies is accepted. The qualification process is mutual—I need to understand if I can genuinely help you, and you need to understand if this is the right investment for where you are.
The 12 Laws of the De Maria Universe
Principles forged in 26 years of working with entrepreneurs. Not rules to follow blindly, but truths to internalize.
You Are the CEO, Not the Expert
The true entrepreneur must assume the identity of the CEO: the one who orchestrates without necessarily executing, who decides without necessarily knowing everything. You must stop confusing yourself with the figure of the expert. Your task is not to do things better than others. Your task is to create the conditions so that others can do them better than you.
Your Company Reflects You
Your business is the exact reflection of who you are. Every inefficiency, every bottleneck, every plateau is a symptom of a personal limitation of the leader. The company does not grow beyond the entrepreneur's ability to grow. If you want to transform your business, you must first transform yourself.
The Identity Precedes the Result
You don't achieve results and then become the person who achieves them. You become that person first, then the results follow. Identity shapes actions. Actions shape results. If you try to change results without changing identity, you're pushing a boulder uphill.
Comfort Is the Enemy of Growth
Every level of success creates a new comfort zone. And every comfort zone becomes a prison if you stop at it. Growth requires continuous discomfort. Not suffering, but the willingness to operate at the edge of your abilities. Those who seek comfort find stagnation.
The Market Doesn't Reward Effort
The market doesn't care how hard you work. It rewards the value you create for those willing to pay for it. Many entrepreneurs confuse activity with productivity, sacrifice with strategy. Working more is not the answer. Creating more value is.
Systems Beat Willpower
Discipline is overrated. Systems are underrated. You can't rely on willpower indefinitely—it's a finite resource. Build systems that make success inevitable and failure difficult. The goal is not to be strong, but to build an environment that doesn't require constant strength.
The Obstacle Is the Path
What blocks you is exactly what will make you grow. Entrepreneurs who avoid problems stay small. Those who face them, learn, transform, and grow. Every crisis is disguised opportunity. Every difficulty is compressed training.
Speed of Implementation Determines Success
The difference between those who succeed and those who don't is not the quality of ideas—it's the speed of implementation. While you perfect your plan, someone else is already executing. Imperfect action beats perfect inaction. Every time.
The Network Is the Multiplier
You are the average of the five entrepreneurs you spend the most time with. Your network is not just a resource—it's a multiplier. Proximity to successful people doesn't just give you ideas; it recalibrates your sense of what's possible.
Clarity Creates Reality
You cannot hit a target you cannot see. The clearer your vision, the more inevitable its realization. Confusion is expensive. Every moment of uncertainty costs money, energy, and opportunity. Invest time in clarity before investing resources in action.
Simplicity Is the Ultimate Sophistication
Complex businesses are fragile businesses. Scalable businesses are simple businesses. The entrepreneur's job is not to add complexity, but to remove it relentlessly. If you can't explain your business model to a child, it's too complicated.
Legacy Outlasts Profit
Money is a consequence, not the goal. The entrepreneurs who build something lasting are those who focus on impact, not just income. Ask not just "How much can I earn?" but "What will remain when I'm gone?" Build something worth building.
These laws are not just words. They are the operating system behind every transformation I've facilitated.
Apply These Principles to Your Business